COVID-19, General, Medicare

Medicare and Coronavirus: What You Need to Know

April 2, 2020 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: February 21, 2023

With the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), being informed about your Medicare coverage is more important than ever.

Medicare recently expanded its coverage of telehealth services. Telehealth enables beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services from doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility. It also helps frontline clinicians stay safe themselves while treating people.

If your doctor orders a COVID-19 test for you, Medicare covers all of the costs. You should not have any co-pay, no matter what Medicare plan you’re enrolled in. There’s no vaccine for COVID-19 at this time, but when one becomes available, Medicare will cover it.

Medicare also covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes extra days in the hospital for in-patients who were on the verge of being discharged, but were diagnosed with COVID-19 and had to stay longer under quarantine.

Doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers can deliver telehealth services. Medicare beneficiaries can receive telehealth services in their home, as well as in any healthcare facility, a physician’s office, hospital, nursing home, or rural health clinic.

Telehealth services can include routine office visits, mental health counseling, and preventive health screenings for cancer and other illnesses.

By helping healthcare institutions across the nation offer medical services remotely, telehealth helps free up hospital emergency departments and doctors’ offices to deal with the most urgent COVID-19 cases.

During this emergency, Medicare will pay for telehealth services at the same rates as in-person services, giving doctors and other medical professionals the opportunity to reserve their offices to treat those who truly require in-person care.

We know many Medicare beneficiaries are concerned about the spread of coronavirus and the threat it poses to their well-being. That’s why we’ve taken these rapid steps to ensure that the Medicare program continues to protect our beneficiaries while maintaining trusted access to care in these uncertain times.

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  1. Nick J.

    Hi I am working as USA healthcare professional and running a Medical Billing RCM blog(www.medicalbillingrcm.com) for the help of people who wants to know about American Healthcare Systems and Insurance policies. I always read this blog to improve my knowledge.
    Thanks

  2. Frank M.

    Rodney and or Jackie, my last name is McNutt as well. Do you have/know of any Ohio relatives with our last name? Curious in isolation in Saluda NC.

  3. RODNEY M.

    I AM REALLY CONFUSED BECAUSE I AM A NON-FILER WHO RECEIVES SSA RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND MY WIFE AND ADULT SON RECEIVE SSA-DISABILITY PAYMENTS AND NONE OF US RECEIVED OUR ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS/CHECKS VIA DIRECT DEPOSIT EVEN THOUGH THE IRS HAS OUR 1099 INFORMATION AND WE ARE ALL LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS EVEN MY ADULT DAUGHTER WHO FILED THIS YR (AND LAST YR) FOR AND RECEIVED HER REFUND THIS TAX YR DID NOT GET HER ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT AT ALL.

    I EVEN WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE I NEEDED TO CLICK TO GET A STATUS ON PAYMENT AND GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MY STATUS OR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT—I WAS STEAMED AND HAD TO WONDER WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING UP THERE IN DC WHEN ALL THIS WAS TREATED AS SUCH IMPORTANCE TO TRY TO SAVE OUR ECONOMY!! I EVEN SUBMITTED MY BANK ACCT INFO  TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS!!!
    AN ANSWER WOULD REALLY BE APPRECIATED!!!

  4. RODNEY M.

    I AM REALLY TICKED BECAUSE I AM A NON-FILER WHO RECEIVES SSA RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND MY WIFE AND ADULT SON RECEIVE SSA-DISABILITY PAYMENTS AND NONE OF US RECEIVED OUR ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS/CHECKS VIA DIRECT DEPOSIT EVEN THOUGH THE IRS HAS OUR 1099 INFORMATION AND WE ARE ALL LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS EVEN MY ADULT DAUGHTER WHO FILED THIS YR (AND LAST YR) FOR AND RECEIVED HER REFUND THIS TAX YR DID NOT GET HER ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT AT ALL.

    I EVEN WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE I NEEDED TO CLICK TO GET A STATUS ON PAYMENT AND GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MY STATUS OR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT—I WAS STEAMED AND HAD TO WONDER WHAT THE HECK IS GOING UP THERE IN DC WHEN ALL THIS WAS TREATED AS SUCH IMPORTANCE TO TRY TO SAVE OUR ECONOMY!! I EVEN SUBMITTED MY BANK ACCT INFO  TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS!!!
    AN ANSWER WOULD REALLY BE APPRECIATED!!!

  5. RODNEY M.

    I AM REALLY PISSED BECAUSE I AM A NON-FILER WHO RECEIVES SSA RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND MY WIFE AND ADULT SON RECEIVE SSA-DISABILITY PAYMENTS AND NONE OF US RECEIVED OUR ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS/CHECKS VIA DIRECT DEPOSIT EVEN THOUGH THE IRS HAS OUR 1099 INFORMATION AND WE ARE ALL LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS EVEN MY ADULT DAUGHTER WHO FILED THIS YR (AND LAST YR) FOR AND RECEIVED HER REFUND THIS TAX YR DID NOT GET HER ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT AT ALL.

    I EVEN WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE I NEEDED TO CLICK TO GET A STATUS ON PAYMENT AND GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MY STATUS OR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT—I WAS STEAMED AND HAD TO WONDER WHAT THE HELL IS GOING UP THERE IN DC WHEN ALL THIS WAS TREATED AS SUCH IMPORTANCE TO TRY TO SAVE OUR ECONOMY!! I EVEN SUBMITTED MY BANK ACCT INFO  TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS!!!
    AN ANSWER WOULD REALLY BE APPRECIATED!!!

  6. RODNEY M.

    I AM REALLY PISSED BECAUSE I AM A NON-FILER WHO RECEIVES SSA RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND MY WIFE AND ADULT SON RECEIVE SSA-DISABILITY PAYMENTS AND NONE OF US RECEIVED OUR ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS/CHECKS VIA DIRECT DEPOSIT EVEN THOUGH THE IRS HAS OUR 1099 INFORMATION AND WE ARE ALL LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS EVEN MY ADULT DAUGHTER WHO FILED THIS YR (AND LAST YR) FOR AND RECEIVED HER REFUND THIS TAX YR DID NOT GET HER ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT AT ALL.

    • RODNEY M.

      I EVEN WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE I NEEDED TO CLICK TO GET A STATUS ON PAYMENT AND GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MY STATUS OR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT—I WAS STEAMED AND HAD TO WONDER WHAT THE HELL IS GOING UP THERE IN DC WHEN ALL THIS WAS TREATED AS SUCH IMPORTANCE TO TRY TO SAVE OUR ECONOMY!! I EVEN SUBMITTED MY BANK ACCT INFO TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS!!!
      AN ANSWER WOULD REALLY BE GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED!!!

    • RODNEY M.

      I EVEN WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE I NEEDED TO CLICK TO GET A STATUS ON PAYMENT AND GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MY STATUS OR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT—I WAS STEAMED AND HAD TO WONDER WHAT THE HELL IS GOING UP THERE IN DC WHEN ALL THIS WAS TREATED AS SUCH IMPORTANCE TO TRY TO SAVE OUR ECONOMY!! I EVEN SUBMITTED MY BANK ACCT INFO  TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS!!!
      AN ANSWER WOULD REALLY BE APPRECIATED!!!

    • JACKIE M.

      I AM REALLY PISSED BECAUSE I AM A NON-FILER WHO RECEIVES SSA RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND MY WIFE AND ADULT SON RECEIVE SSA-DISABILITY PAYMENTS AND NONE OF US RECEIVED OUR ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENTS/CHECKS VIA DIRECT DEPOSIT EVEN THOUGH THE IRS HAS OUR 1099 INFORMATION AND WE ARE ALL LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS EVEN MY ADULT DAUGHTER WHO FILED THIS YR (AND LAST YR) FOR AND RECEIVED HER REFUND THIS TAX YR DID NOT GET HER ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT AT ALL.

      I EVEN WENT TO THE PLACE WHERE I NEEDED TO CLICK TO GET A STATUS ON PAYMENT AND GOT THE MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MY STATUS OR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS PAYMENT—I WAS STEAMED AND HAD TO WONDER WHAT THE HELL IS GOING UP THERE IN DC WHEN ALL THIS WAS TREATED AS SUCH IMPORTANCE TO TRY TO SAVE OUR ECONOMY!! I EVEN SUBMITTED MY BANK ACCT INFO  TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS!!!
      AN ANSWER WOULD REALLY BE APPRECIATED!!!

  7. Misty S.

    I draw 800 a month a my brother claimed me o his taxes wil i be able to get the stimulus check ive been told yes and no can someone give me a straight answer

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Misty, thank you for your question. Please visit the IRS Economic Impact Payments Information Center to answer your questions about eligibility, payment amounts, what to expect, when to expect it and more. Hope this helps!

  8. Misty S.

    Who on ssi andssidiability does not get a stimulas check

  9. Khetigaadi

    Great job Medicare during this scary time! Keep it up. Thanku for sharing such helpful information.
    From : https://khetigaadi.com/kh/#/buy-used-tractor

  10. Geminair

    Great Article. Thank you for this important article shared with us.
    https://www.geminair.com.au/

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